Coupling

ABSTRACT

A coupling between parts subject to differential expansion and contraction comprising first and second sealing abutments and an intervening constraint on relative movement whereby differential movements provide a self-compensating tightening and loosening of the sealing abutments. The coupling is especially useful for joining tubular parts such as caps or spray nozzles in containers for agricultural chemicals.

This invention relates to couplings, and in particular to couplings formed between two tubular plastics elements.

A problem which arises in forming couplings between plastics elements, in particular where the plastics elements are formed of plastics of two different types, is that of differential expansion. When a threaded joint, e.g. the neck of a container, is screwed down against a seal, e.g. in a cap, initially a good fluid tight joint may be formed. Subsequently however the joint is likely in use to undergo dimensional changes. If the cap expands more than the neck of the bottle, the cap sidewall will expand more than the neck sidewall, tending to lift the neck of the bottle off the seal. With aqueous liquids this is generally not too serious, but certain organic liquids require a very tight seal to prevent leaking. Differential expansion and contraction may be caused by swelling of the plastics materials by liquids in contact with them, particularly organic solvents. Such problems can occur with composite containers, such as those designed for the electrostatic spraying of agricultural chemicals, and are of especial concern in tis context since these chemicals are frequently toxic creating a hazard for operators and the environment if leakage occurs. Generally problems are greatest when the two parts of the joint are made of different materials, though they can also occur when both parts of the joint are of the same material.

Differential expansion and contraction may also be caused by temperature changes.

We have now devised a coupling which overcomes at least in part the problem outlined above.

The present invention provides a coupling between parts subject in use to differential expansion or contraction comprising:

first and second sealing contacts between the parts and a constraint against relative movement tending to separate the parts, located between the contacts, the parts being otherwise capable of limited relative movement towards and away from the contacts whereby differential expansion or contraction causes one sealing abutment to tighten as the other loosens and vice-versa.

Preferably the parts are tubular elements sleeved one inside the other to form a junction between the elements and the sealing contacts comprise a shoulder on each element abutting the end of the other tubular element.

Preferably also the mating surfaces of the junction are threaded and the constraint against relative movement is provided by opposed substantially radial shoulders in the thread profiles which are otherwise shaped with sufficient play to permit a degree of relative movement.

It is preferred that the radial shoulders of the threads are substantially normal to the axis of the tubes. This reduces the possibility of relative movement of the tubes being taken up by slippage between the thread faces.

Two specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a horizontal section through two plastics pipes coupled according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the neck of a plastics container carrying a plastics dispensing nozzle.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the coupling comprises a first tube(2) carrying a shoulder (4), in which is formed an annular groove (6). The groove (6) carries a sealing O-ring (8). Forward of the shoulder (4), and spaced away from it, is an external thread (10) having a substantially radial mating face (11). The second element of the coupling is a tube (12), carrying an internal thread (14) having a substantially radial mating face (15) which mates with face (11) to form a constraint against relative movement tending to separate the tubes. Within tube (12) behind thread (10) is formed an annular recess or groove (16) containing an O-ring (18). The mouth (20) of tube (2) is tapered and squared off to form a sealing edge (22) which enters the grove (16) and forms a first sealing abument against the O-ring (18). At the forward end of tube (12) a similar sealing edge (24) enters groove (6), and forms a second sealing contact against O-ring (8).

The joint is assembled by screwing together tubes (2) and (12). The dimensions of the tubes are such that, on assembly, a tight seal is formed between O-ring (18) and edge (22), while edge (24) and O-ring (8) are less tightly forced together. When liquid is passed through the joint, tube (12) swells. This tends to pull edge (22) out of groove (16) and reduce the efficiency of the seal between it and O-ring (18). However, the swelling forces the edge (24) more firmly into groove (6), thereby preserving the integrity of the coupling as a whole.

The O-rings are an optional feature of the design shown in FIG. 1, and may be omitted if a sufficiently good seal is obtainable without them.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. This comprises a polyethlene terephthalate bottle (30) having a neck (32) carrying an external thread (34). On this neck is mounted an annular nozzle (36), by means of a corresponding internal thread (38). Nozzle (36) is designed for electrostatic spraying and is fabricated of nylon filled with carbon black to make it electrically conducting. An annular sealing groove (40) is formed in a radial projection (42) on the neck (32) of bottle (30). Into this groove (40) a squared sealing rim (43) of the nozzle (36) projects. Within nozzle (36) below thread (38) is formed a sealing well (44). This receives the squared mouth (46), the rim (45) of which is square in cross-section, of bottle (30), so as to form a tight sealing fit.

The internal thread (38) on nozzle (36) is a single start thread having a pitch of 4.25, and a length about twice the inner circumference of the nozzle (36). The lower surface (50) of the thread (38) is approximately normal to the axis while the upper surface (52) is about 30° to the horizontal and clearance is provided on the other surfaces to allow for differential movements. Nozzle (36) is closed by a screw cap (47) having an internal finger (48) to fill dead space in the nozzle. Radial flange (49) on the outside of cap (47) is provided so that cap (47) may more easily be fitted by cap loading machinery. Further details of the construction of the nozzle and bottle are as described and shown in FIGS. 7-11 of published European Patent Specification No. 80304204, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

It will be apparent that differential movements may occur in the radial as well as the axial direction. Provision is made for such movements in the design of the thread profiles and in many operating environments the construction shown in FIG. 2 will be sufficiently flexible in the region of the sealing contacts (43,46) to accommodate these movements.

If desired, however, the sealing contacts may be in the form of an edge on one member contacting a radial shoulder on the other so as to permit a degree of relative radial movement in the region of the sealing contact.

The container is assembled by filling with an organic liquid pesticide formulation, and then screwing nozzle (36) onto container (30). The relative dimensions of nozzle (36) and container (30) are such that tightening of the nozzle causes initially a strong seal between mouth (46) and well (44). However, liquid in the container causes the plastics nozzle gradually to swell to a greater extent than the bottle (30). As a consequence, the wall of nozzle (36) lengthens. It is held in contact with the bottle (30) by the threads (34, 38) and movement takes place relative to the point of contact of the threads. In consequence, pressure forcing the mouth (46) into the sealing well (44) is reduced, and the seal here is weakened. This is however compensated for by the rim (43) being forced more strongly into the annular groove (40), so that overall no liquid is allowed to escape through the joint.

The container (30) and nozzle (36) are of the type shown in published European Application No. 803040204, referred to above. As the nozzle and bottle are intended to be permanently joined they may incorporate a set of cooperating ratchet teeth (as shown in the European Patent Specification) to prevent unscrewing. Increased permanency may also be provided by ultrasonic staking of portions of the nozzle to the container neck.

The container and nozzle are designed for electrostatic spraying of agricultural chemicals in which the nozzle is charged to a high voltage. In such processes fine tolerances in liquid passageways need to be maintained to optimise the spraying process. It is also critically important for the container and nozzle to be secure and leak proof in storage and use in view of the toxicity of many pesticides and the potential hazard to operator and the environment. 

We claim:
 1. A coupling comprising: a first tubular element having an external surface with a thread thereon;a second tubular element having an interior surface with a thread thereon, said threads of said first and second tubular elements have radial mating portions and cooperating in threaded engagement; said first tubular element threaded terminating in a first annular sealing edge; said second tubular element threaded surface terminating in a second annular sealing edge; means defining a first sealing groove in said first tubular element at a portion thereof adjacent the end of said external threaded surface opposite said first annular sealing edge, said first sealing groove dimensioned to cooperate in a sealing relationship with said first annular sealing edge; and means defining a second sealing groove in said second element adjacent the end of said interior threaded surface opposite said second annular sealing edge, for operative sealing cooperation with said first annular sealing edge.
 2. A coupling as recited in claim 1 further comprising flexible sealing means disposed in each of said first and second sealing grooves.
 3. A coupling as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible sealing means comprises an O-ring disposed in each of said first and second sealing grooves.
 4. A coupling as recited in claim 1 wherein one of said tubular elements is formed from conducting plastics material, and the other of said tubular elements is formed from electrically insulating plastics material.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein one of said tubular elements is part of a container for containing liquid to be dispensed, and wherein the other of said tubular elements is part of a spray head for dispensing liquid from said container. 